Subject: American Literature

Topic: Taking a Stand--The literature of the Civil Rights/Vietnam Era

This unit focuses on the literature that reflected the social changes that defined the 1960’s. Discussions will include the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Movement, the issues and controversies surrounding the Vietnam War, as well as the Stonewell uprising. Students will read a variety of stories and complete several short assignments related to the reading including journal entries, class discussions, and analytical essays. Students will also complete a culminating project and class presentation.

Resources:

S “Where have you gone, Charming Billy?” Tim O’Brien

S “Village” Estela Portillo

S “On the Rainy River” Tim O’Brien

S “Coming of Age in Mississippi” Anne Moody

S “Necessary to Protect Ourselves” Malcolm X

S “Why I want a wife” Judy Syfers

S The 60’s video starring Julia Stiles and Jeremy Sisto

S An LCD projector and wireless laptop computer to allow students to share their culminating projects with the class

Objectives:

Research

< Students will use a variety of technological and information resources

(e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

< Students will define and investigate self-selected or assigned issues, topics

and problems; locate, select, and make use of relevant information from a variety of media, reference, and form to communicate their findings.

Communication: Oral and Visual

< Students will give informational presentations that contain a clear

perspective; present ideas from multiple sources in logical sequence; and include a consistent organizational structure.

Students will create PowerPoint presentations or Web Pages to accompany their presentations

Activities

After reading and discussing the story selections both in class and as homework, students will be assigned one of the following topics to research and present to the class. The 18 students in my class will work in pairs. Students should focus their research on answering the following question:

In what ways did the topic of my research influence or change

current laws, social attitudes or methods of social protest?

Project Topics

S Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycot

S The Little Rock 9

S Bobby Seale, Huey Newton and the Black Panther Movement

S My Lai Massacre

S The Fall of Saigon

S Democratic National Convention/Chicago Seven

S National Organization for Women-ERA, Betty Friedan

S Malcolm Little (X)

S The Stonewall Riots, San Francisco

Students will write an APA style research paper in which they will focus on the following:

S Background

S Social significance

S Key players

S The influence the person/event had on modern laws or social values.

S The reference page must include at least three sources, one of which must be an online source, though at least one source must be either a book, video or interview

Project Options:

1. Create a web page in Microsoft Word that includes at least two annotated links to other reliable, well-rounded sources. Annotations should include the following:

· The name of the site included as a hyperlink.

· Description of the scope of information found on the site

· Information about any special features on the site (sound or video clips, message boards, etc.)

· Your overall evaluation of the site.

· A sample annotation can be found here.

Your web page must include at least four images and be attractively and appropriately formatted.

<o:p></o:p>

2. Create a PowerPoint presentation of at least 8 slides about your topic. PowerPoints must include

pictures, transitions, and be appropriately and attractively formatted.

Project Evaluation

Click here for a project/presentation evaluation sheet

PowerPoint Instructions

1. Select “Start” then “All Programs”

2. Choose “Microsoft PowerPoint”

3. Select Blank Presentation and click on the OK button.

4. In the New Slide dialog box select the first, or Title Slide option.

New Slide Dialog Box

Inserting New Slides

To insert a new slide, simply select Insert|New Slide from the menu bar or click the New Slide button on the standard toolbar.

Applying a Design Template

To add a design template or changing the existing one, select Apply Design Template from the floating menu bar. Select the template and click Apply.

6. Adding Clip Art:

You can add clip art to any slide using the Insert Clip Art button on the Standard Toolbar.

1. On the toolbar, click the Insert, then on the drop-down list select Picture, then clip art.

2. You will get the Microsoft Clip gallery dialog box.

3. Enter a term in the search bar or explore the categories listed to find the image you desire.

4. When you find the desired image, right click on the image and select “Insert.”

Annotated Bibliography

An annotated source is basically a bibliographic citation that includes a paragraph that describes the scope of the information found in the source. Your assignment is to research several sources in an area related to your field. Make sure that the five (5) sources you choose to annotate are valid, authoritative, and useful. The following list contains information you should consider including in your description:

· What is the scope of information found in the source? (Check out the site map and explore the links listed in the outer page margins.)

· What special features does the source offer? (Can users buy materials, get price quotes, find employment or college applications, contact the writer, try out simulations, etc.?)

· How easy/efficient is the source to use?

· Check the date to make sure the information is not outdated.

· Check the author/company/organization to make sure information is not biased or inaccurate. (If a source may be biased, include that in your annotation.)

Following is a sample of an annotated citation:

American Library Association (May, 2002)."Multimedia Schools." Retrieved May

12, 2002 from http://www.ala.multimedsch.pro.org.

This online journal would be useful to any education professional, especially those interested in reading about the latest software available for educational use. It features reviews from teachers who have actually used the software, and includes discussion of both the positive and negative aspects. There is also a link to "Troubleshooting tips," which includes all kinds of great advice for anyone who sometimes has problems with technology. The tips under this link don't require users to have advanced degrees. Other links include "Educational resources," "lesson plans," "case studies," as well as links to programs and strategies for improving proficiency test scores.

One special feature that I thought was very interesting was the "Multimedia project of the week." This features student-developed projects that match up with common curriculum themes like the Holocaust, British Literature, and physics experiments.

Research and Presentation Evaluation Sheet

Project Components:

_____ Summary (40)

< Typed, double-spaced, well-written 2-4 page synopsis of main points of

topic. Includes background, key players and modern social significance.

_____ References (15)

< Minimum of three credible library, Internet, and/or interview sources

cited in the appropriate APA format

_____ Presentation Aid (20)

< Accurate and relevant aid used to enhance and reinforce main points of

topic. Graphics and text enhance the understanding of subject matter.

_____ Oral Presentation (50)

< Content and Subject Knowledge

▪ sufficient and clearly related information

▪ ample explanation, elaboration, and support

▪ ability to answer questions and demonstrate understanding of topic

< Organization

▪ logical, interesting sequence that is easy to follow

▪ necessary background information is provided

< Delivery

▪ appropriate volume, posture, tone, and eye contact

▪ information presented, not read

▪ minimum of 5-7 minutes

_____ Total (125)

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